CBA Weekly: A Record Missions Celebration, and a Week of Missional Opportunity

“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you… and pray to the Lord on its behalf” (Jeremiah 29:7). Pastor Justin Nelson brought that word to the Annual Missions Celebration, and this week our churches get to live it. Trunk-or-treats and fall festivals will open church doors across the county to neighbors who may not walk through them any other night of the year. Pray that every one of them meets the peace of Jesus.

United in Prayer

Pray 4 Chilton is a growing circle of people praying for our county every day. Pick a 15-minute daily slot and join them: Sign up to pray

Prayer Focus

• The fall festivals and trunk-or-treats this week. Pray for the volunteers, for real conversations, and for families who visit to come back on a Sunday.
• Churches searching for a pastor or staff. Pray for wisdom for their search teams and unity while they wait.
• The Alabama Baptist State Convention, November 17 and 18. Pray for the messengers from our churches and for unity around the Great Commission.
• Election Day, November 3. Pray for our state and local leaders and for those who will be elected (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
• Dr. Rick Lance and Dr. Derek Allen. Give thanks for Dr. Lance, who retires January 31 after nearly 30 years as executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. Pray for Dr. Allen, executive director-elect and pastor of First Baptist Church Tillman’s Corner in Mobile, as he prepares to lead beginning February 1.

What God Is Doing

On Sunday, October 18, 75 people from 23 of our 54 churches, plus the 412 Tabernacle church plant, gathered at First Baptist Church Clanton for the 172nd Annual Missions Celebration. That is the most churches represented in my six and a half years serving the association. Messengers adopted the 2027 budget, elected officers (Clark Thompson, Moderator-Elect; Kent Dodson, Treasurer; Bobby Cook, Assistant Treasurer; Jessica Glass, Clerk), and accepted Bell Lane Baptist Church’s invitation to host in 2027. Justin Nelson now serves as Moderator.

We honored the legacy of Mrs. Myrtle Littleton, who took a generation of Chilton County teenagers to camps and the mission field, and presented a plaque to her daughter, Miriam Littleton Milks. Hands went up all over the room from people Mrs. Myrtle had taken on a mission trip. Then Justin reminded us of the 226 baptisms across our churches this past year, and of the roughly 35,000 neighbors in our county who still need Jesus. “It’s going to take us all.” Thank you to every church that came.

This Week and Upcoming

• The Gospels, Samford Ministry Training Institute: Tuesdays, 6:00 to 9:00 PM, tonight (October 27) and November 3. Details
• GriefShare: Wednesdays, 10:00 AM, October 28 and November 4. Details
• Bivocational Pastors Breakfast: Saturday, October 31, 9:00 AM, Farmhouse Cafe. Details
• Fall festivals and trunk-or-treats, October 28 to 31: Jemison First, Center Hill and Bell Lane (Wednesday, October 28), Mulberry (Thursday, October 29), and Pleasant Hill and Mountain Creek (Saturday, October 31).
• Fall Back to Jesus Youth Rally: Sunday, November 1, 5:00 PM, New Salem Baptist Church. Details
• Trunks N Treats: Sunday, November 1, 6:00 PM, Union Springs Baptist Church. Details
• Saturday, November 7: a Free Community Yard Sale at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church #1 (8:00 AM) and the 4th Annual Car Show at Corinth Baptist Church (8:30 AM).

Dates, times and details for every church event are on the CBA calendar.

Student ministry fellowship, Monday, November 16. Anyone who works with students in a CBA church, staff or volunteer, is invited to an evening of dinner, a fire pit and a conversation about what you need and how the association can support your ministry. Details and RSVP

Church of the Week

This week we lift up Macedonia Baptist Church, pastored by Zack Bates. Please pray for Zack and the Macedonia family as they carry the gospel to their neighbors.

Grow With CBA (Open to Everyone)

The Gospels, from the Samford Ministry Training Institute, meets Tuesdays from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at the CBA office or online through December 8. Over eight weeks the class asks who Jesus is and how we know, one Gospel at a time. Learn more with Samford

The free Church Health Check-Up course is always open at chiltonbaptist.online/courses.

Resource of the Week

Pray. Prepare. Vote., a free resource from the Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP), gives churches a printable flyer, social graphics, and quick links to the sample ballot and polling places for November 3.

“Our hope is in Jesus, not in any election. But that doesn’t mean we shrink back from political involvement. Encourage your people to vote on November 3 according to their convictions and values.”

Read more

From Our Partners at the State Board (ALSBOM)

These are hosted by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, not CBA, and are open to our churches.

• B+ Faith Focused Security Training: Friday, October 30, 12:00 PM, Cropwell Baptist Church. Details
• Alabama Baptist Pastors Conference: Monday, November 16, First Baptist Church Trussville. The theme is joy in ministry, with Shane Pruitt, DJ Horton, Cory Horton, Clint Pressley, Joe Lewis Stevens and Theron Hawkins, and worship led by the Samford Worship Collective. Sessions at 9:00 AM, 1:30 PM and 6:15 PM. Register at albaptistpc.com. Details
• Alabama Baptist State Convention, 203rd Annual Meeting: November 17 and 18, also at First Baptist Church Trussville. Messenger pre-registration is open on SBC Workspace. If your church does not know its SBC username and password, the CBA office can help, or call the State Board at (334) 613-2266. Details and the hotel guide: alsbom.org/convention. Details

Churches: elect your messengers. Every church is entitled to at least one messenger. If your church has a business meeting before November 17, that is the time to elect them.

Ministry Openings

• Minister of Music, Providence Baptist Church #1 (bivocational)
• Children’s Pastor, Youth Minister and Music Minister, Union Grove Baptist Church (part time)
• Worship Leader, Hillcrest Baptist Church
• Minister of Youth, Jemison First Baptist Church (full time)
• Camp Coordinator, Camp 1:27, Raleigh’s Place (full time, year round)

Know someone who might fit? Details and how to apply: chiltonbaptist.online/ministry-openings

Announcements

• Christmas Backpacks: thank you. 322 backpacks are in toward the 492 the association committed to, and more are still coming in. Thank you to every church and individual who filled one.
• Myrtle Littleton Memorial Offering. Gifts are still welcome through your church, by check to the CBA office (designated), or at chiltonbaptist.online/give.

---

A reply to this email will not reach the CBA office. To get in touch, write us at [email protected] or visit chiltonbaptist.online/contact.